While the final score might not look like it, Boston Celtics big man Neemias Queta and his Portuguese National Team nearly beat the German National Team in their first game of the knockout round of 2025 FIBA EuroBasket play on Saturday morning. Portugal would fall to Germany 85-58 in the end, but Queta and company actually led several times earlier in the match and were in the mix until the German National Team blew their lead wide open in the contest’s final frame.
With the loss, Portugal’s EuroBasket run ends, but not without flashing major promise for the future of the sport in the Western European country. And no better example of why that is the case could be found in this game than Queta, who put up a team-high 18 points, along with 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block in just under 27 minutes of floor time.
Queta shot 5-of-11 from the floor overall, made 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and connected on 7-of-9 of his attempts from the free throw line in a contest that saw him pick up only 1 personal foul and 0 turnovers.
“You know it’s not going to be easy when you go against Germany,” said Queta before the game via an interview with EuroBasket. “They’re the world champions for a reason. Very well-coached. A lot of talent, a lot of length, a lot of size.”
Ultimately, Germany had too much high-level talent on the roster, with at least five players on their roster having at least entered the NBA draft or played in the league — including fellow Celtics alumni Dennis Schroder and Daniel Theis, and Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner.
The end might not be what Queta was hoping for, but the future in Boston for the Lisbon native and for the Portuguese National Team is looking brighter than it was at the start of this tourney.
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